Editing John Entwistle

{{Short description|English musician; bassist for The Who (1944–2002)}}
{{about||the English cyclist|John Entwistle (cyclist)|the English Member of Parliament|John Entwistle (politician)}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist 
| image             = John Entwistle-1.jpg
<!-- NOTE: Do not replace John Entwistle-1.jpg unless it is with a photo under a public domain or free license (meaning NOT fair use). Any fair use photos (i.e. 'promotional photos') violate the Fair Use Policy and will be deleted. See [[Wikipedia:Fair]] use criteria -->| caption           = Entwistle at [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] in Toronto, Canada, 1976
| background        = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name        = John Alec Entwistle
| alias             = {{hlist|The Ox|Thunderfingers|The Quiet One|Big Johnny Twinkle}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date|df=yes|1944|10|09}}
| birth_place       = [[Hammersmith, London]], England<ref name = ODNB>{{cite ODNB|title = Entwistle, John Alec (1944–2002), songwriter and guitarist|last = Humphries|first = Patrick|date = 2006|doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/76977}}</ref> <!-- Born in Hammersmith, London to parents in Chiswick -->
| death_date        = {{death date and age|df=yes|2002|06|27|1944|10|09}}
| death_place       = [[Paradise, Nevada]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|Rock|[[hard rock]]|[[power pop]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|singer}}
| instrument        = {{hlist|Bass guitar|vocals|French horn|trumpet}}<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed or removed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| discography       = {{hlist|[[John Entwistle discography|Solo]]|[[The Who discography|with the Who]]}}
| years_active      = 1961–2002
| label             = {{hlist|[[Track Records|Track]]|[[Polydor Records|Polydor]]|[[Decca Records|Decca]]|[[MCA Records|MCA]]|[[Atco Records|Atco]]|[[Griffin Music|Griffin]]}}
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[The Who]]|[[Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band]]}}
}}

'''John Alec Entwistle''' (9 October 1944{{spnd}}27 June 2002) was an English musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the rock band [[the Who]].  Entwistle's music career spanned over four decades. Nicknamed "'''The Ox'''" and "'''Thunderfingers'''",<ref name="thewho1">{{cite web | url=http://www.thewho.com/history/john-entwistle/ | title=John Entwistle; THE ART OF JOHN ENTWISTLE | publisher=The Who | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703220059/http://www.thewho.com/history/john-entwistle/ | archive-date=3 July 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> he was the band's only member with formal musical training and also provided backing and occasional lead vocals. Entwistle was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of the Who in 1990.

Renowned for his musical abilities, Entwistle is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rock bass guitarists of all time. His instrumental approach featured [[pentatonic scale|pentatonic]] lead lines and a then-unusual treble-rich sound ("full treble, full volume"). He was voted as the greatest bass guitar player ever in a 2011 ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' readers' poll<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/rolling-stone-readers-pick-the-top-ten-bassists-of-all-time-20110331/1-john-entwistle-0795723 | title=Rolling Stone Readers Pick the Top Ten Bassists of All Time | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=31 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411012731/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/rolling-stone-readers-pick-the-top-ten-bassists-of-all-time-20110331/1-john-entwistle-0795723 | archive-date=11 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and, in 2020, the same magazine ranked him number three in its list of the "50 Greatest Bassists of All Time".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-1003022/|title=The 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time|first=Jonathan|last=Bernstein|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=1 July 2020|access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref>

== Early life ==
John Alec Entwistle was born on 9 October 1944 at [[Queen Charlotte's Hospital]] in [[Hammersmith]], London,<ref name = ODNB/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=l257Ai7C0e%2BVfxlcBCOx2g&scan=1|title=Index entry|accessdate=20 September 2024|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref> and brought up in [[Chiswick]], Middlesex, which is now part of London.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=24}} He was an only child. His father, Herbert (1915 - 2003), played the trumpet{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=26}} and his mother, Maud (née Lee) (29 November 1922 – 4 March 2011),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classicrockmen.livejournal.com/2848.html|title=Queenie Entwistle 29th November 1922 to 3rd March 2011|website=Classicrockmen.livejournal.com|access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref> played the piano.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=25}} His parents' marriage failed soon after he was born, and he was mostly raised by his mother at his grandparents' house in [[South Acton, London|South Acton]].{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=12}} Divorce was uncommon in the 1940s, and this contributed to Entwistle becoming reserved and socialising little.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=25}}

His musical career began at age 7, when he started taking piano lessons. He did not enjoy the experience and after joining Acton County Grammar School aged 11, switched to the trumpet,{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=25}} moving to the French horn when he joined the Middlesex Schools Symphony Orchestra.{{sfn|Neill|Kent|2009|p=12}} He met [[Pete Townshend]] in the second year of school, and the two formed a [[trad jazz]] band, the Confederates. The group only played one gig together, before they decided that [[rock and roll]] was a more attractive prospect.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=26}} Entwistle, in particular, was having difficulty hearing his trumpet with rock bands, and decided to switch to playing guitar, but due to his large fingers, and also his fondness for the low guitar tones of [[Duane Eddy]], he decided to take up the bass instead.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=29}} He made his own instrument at home,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewho.net/whotabs/gear/bass/bass6063.html|title=John Entwistle Gear: 1960-1963 |website=Thewho.net|access-date=28 August 2021|archive-date=8 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008205542/https://www.thewho.net/whotabs/gear/bass/bass6063.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and soon attracted the attention of [[Roger Daltrey]], who had been in the year above Entwistle at Acton County, but had been expelled and was working as an electrician's mate. Daltrey was aware of Entwistle from school, and asked him to join as a bassist for his band, the Detours.{{sfn|Marsh|1983|p=30,32}}

== Career ==
=== The Who ===
{{main|The Who}}
After joining the Detours, Entwistle played a major role in encouraging [[Pete Townshend]]'s budding talent on the guitar, and insisting that Townshend be admitted into the band as well. At this point the band consisted of Entwistle, Townshend and drummer [[Doug Sandom]], a semi-professional player who was several years older than the others. Daltrey relinquished the role of guitarist to Townshend in 1963, instead becoming frontman and lead vocalist.{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}}

The band considered several changes of name, finally settling on the name the Who while Entwistle was still working as a tax clerk (temporarily performing as the High Numbers for four months in 1964).<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1213203.stm |title=The Who bassist Entwistle dies |work=[[BBC News]] |date=28 June 2002 |access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> When the band decided that the blond Daltrey needed to stand out more from the others, Entwistle dyed his naturally light brown hair black, and it remained so until the early 1980s.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uqmQDwAAQBAJ&q=Entwistle+stopped+dyeing+hair&pg=PT222|title = The Ox: The Last of the Great Rock Stars: The Authorised Biography of the Who's John Entwistle|isbn = 9781472129376|last1 = Rees|first1 = Paul|date = 12 March 2020| publisher=Little, Brown Book }}</ref> Around 1963, Entwistle played in a London band called the Initials for a short while; the band broke up when a planned resident engagement in Spain fell through.

Entwistle picked up two nicknames during his career as a musician. He was nicknamed "The Ox" because of his strong constitution<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/mar/08/the-ox-last-of-great-rock-stars-john-entwistle-paul-rees-review|title = The Ox by Paul Rees review – the Who's bass player behaving badly|work = [[The Guardian]]|date = 8 March 2020}}</ref> and seeming ability to "eat, drink or do more than the rest of them". He was also later nicknamed "Thunderfingers". [[Bill Wyman]], bassist for [[the Rolling Stones]], described him as "the quietest man in private but the loudest man on stage". Entwistle was one of the first to make use of [[Marshall micro stack|Marshall stacks]] in an attempt to hear himself over the noise of his band members, who famously leapt and moved about on the stage, with Townshend and [[Keith Moon]] smashing their instruments on numerous occasions (Moon even used explosives in his drum kit during one television performance on ''[[The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour]]''). Townshend later remarked that Entwistle started using Marshall amplification to hear himself over Moon's rapid-fire drumming style, and Townshend himself also had to use them just to be heard over Entwistle. They both continued expanding and experimenting with their rigs, until they were both using twin stacks with new experimental prototype 200 watt amps, at a time when most bands used 50–100 watt amplifiers with single cabinets. All of this quickly gained the Who a reputation for being "the loudest band on the planet"; they reached 126 decibels at a 1976 concert in London, listed in the ''[[Guinness World Records|Guinness Book of World Records]]'' as the loudest rock concert in history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Loudest Concerts In The History Of Rock |url=https://www.loopearplugs.com/blogs/blog/the-loudest-concerts-in-the-history-of-rock |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Loop Earplugs |language=en}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=blog|date=April 2025}}

The band had a strong influence at the time on their contemporaries' choice of equipment, with [[Cream (band)|Cream]] and [[the Jimi Hendrix Experience]] both following suit. Although they pioneered and directly contributed to the development of the "classic" Marshall sound (at this point their equipment was being built or tweaked to their personal specifications), they only used Marshall equipment for a few years. Entwistle eventually switched to using a [[Hiwatt|Sound City]] rig, with Townshend later following suit. Townshend said that [[Jimi Hendrix]], their new label mate, was influenced beyond just the band's volume. Both Entwistle and Townshend had begun experimenting with feedback from the amplifiers in the mid-1960s, and Hendrix did not begin destroying his instruments until after he had witnessed the Who's "auto-destructive art".{{cn|date=April 2025}}

[[File:John Entwistle in 1967 with The Who.jpg|thumb|Entwistle backstage before a gig at [[Friedrich-Ebert-Halle]] in [[Ludwigshafen]], Germany, 1967|alt=]]Entwistle's wry and sometimes dark sense of humour clashed at times with Townshend's more introspective, intellectual work. Although he wrote songs on every Who studio album except for ''Quadrophenia'', Entwistle was frustrated at Daltrey not allowing him to sing them himself. As he said, "I got a couple [of songs] on per album but my problem was that I wanted to sing the songs and not let Roger sing them."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_entwistle.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130726010940/http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_entwistle.html|url-status=dead|title=John Entwistle Quotes |work= BrainyQuote|date=26 July 2013|archive-date=26 July 2013 }}</ref> This was a large part of the reason{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} that he became the first member of the band to release a solo studio album, ''[[Smash Your Head Against the Wall]]'' (1971), which featured contributions from Keith Moon, [[Jerry Shirley]] of [[Humble Pie]], [[Vivian Stanshall]], [[Neil Innes]] and the Who's roadie, Dave "Cyrano" Langston.

He was the only member of the band to have had formal musical training.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/john-entwistle-i-just-wanted-to-play-louder-than-anyone-else|title=John Entwistle: "I just wanted to play louder than anyone else"|first=Paul |last=Rees |website=[[Classic Rock Magazine]]|date=2 November 2017|access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref> In addition to the bass guitar, he contributed backing vocals and performed the French horn (heard on "[[Pictures of Lily]]" and throughout ''[[Tommy (The Who album)|Tommy]]''), trumpet, piano, [[bugle]], and [[Jew's harp]], and on some occasions he sang the lead vocals on his compositions. He layered several horns to create the brass section as heard on songs such as "[[5:15]]", among others, while recording the Who's studio albums, and for concerts, arranged a [[horn section]] to perform with the band.

[[File:John Entwisle.jpg|thumb|left|Entwistle performing with the Who at [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] in Toronto, Canada, 1976]]While Entwistle was known for being the quietest member of the Who, he in fact often exerted major influences on the rest of the band. For instance, Entwistle was the first member of the band to wear a [[Union Jack]] waistcoat. This piece of clothing later became one of Townshend's signature garments.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Eliscu|first1=Jenny|title=Rock & Roll: John Entwistle - The Who Bassist Dies at Fifty-Seven on the Eve of a Major U.S. Tour|magazine=Rolling Stone LLC|id={{ProQuest|1193455}}}}</ref>

In 1974, he compiled ''[[Odds & Sods]]'', a collection of unreleased Who material.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewho.com/music/odds-and-sods/|title=Odds And Sods|website=Thewho.com|access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref> Entwistle designed the cover art for the band's seventh studio album, ''[[The Who by Numbers]]'' (1975), and in a 1996 interview remarked that it had cost £30 to create, while the ''[[Quadrophenia]]'' cover, designed by Pete Townshend, had cost £16,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/john-entwistle-i-just-wanted-to-play-louder-than-anyone-else|title = John Entwistle: "I just wanted to play louder than anyone else"|website=Loudersound.com|date = 2 November 2017}}</ref>

Entwistle also experimented throughout his career with '[[Bi-amping]]', where the high and low ends of the bass are sent through separate signal paths, allowing for more control over the output. At one point his rig became so loaded down with speaker cabinets and processing gear that it was dubbed "Little Manhattan", in reference to the towering, skyscraper-like stacks, racks and blinking lights.

==== Songwriting ====
While Townshend emerged as the Who's songwriter-in-chief, Entwistle began making distinctive contributions to the band's catalogue, beginning with "Whiskey Man" and "[[Boris the Spider]]" on the band's second studio album ''[[A Quick One]]'' (1966), continuing with "Doctor, Doctor" and "Someone's Coming" (1967); "Silas Stingy", "Heinz Baked Beans" and "Medac" from the band's third studio album ''[[The Who Sell Out]]'' (1967); "[[Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (The Who song)|Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde]]" (1968); and "[[Heaven and Hell (The Who song)|Heaven and Hell]]", with which the Who opened their live shows between 1968 and 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-who/heaven-and-hell|title = Heaven and Hell by the Who |website=Songfacts.com}}</ref>

Entwistle wrote "[[Cousin Kevin]]" and "[[Fiddle About]]" for the Who's fourth studio album ''[[Tommy (The Who album)|Tommy]]'' (1969) because Townshend had specifically requested Entwistle to write 'nasty songs' that he felt uncomfortable with. "[[My Wife (song)|My Wife]]", Entwistle's driving, comedic song about marital strife from the band's fifth studio album ''[[Who's Next]]'' (1971), also became a popular stage number. He wrote "Success Story" for ''[[The Who by Numbers]]'' (1975), for which he also drew the illustration on the album cover; "[[Had Enough (The Who song)|Had Enough]]", "905", and "[[Trick of the Light (The Who song)|Trick of the Light]]" for ''[[Who Are You]]'' (1978); "[[The Quiet One (The Who song)|The Quiet One]]" and "You" for ''[[Face Dances]]'' (1981); and "It's Your Turn", "Dangerous" and "One at a Time" for ''[[It's Hard]]'' (1982), his final studio album with the Who.<ref name="thewho1"/>

=== Other work ===
==== Solo career ====
In 1971, Entwistle became the first member of the band to release a solo studio album, ''[[Smash Your Head Against the Wall]]'', which earned him a cult following in the US for fans of his brand of black humour.{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}} Other solo studio albums included: ''[[Whistle Rymes]]'' (1972), ''[[Rigor Mortis Sets In]]'' (1973), ''[[Mad Dog (album)|Mad Dog]]'' (1975), ''[[Too Late the Hero (album)|Too Late the Hero]]'' (1981), and ''[[The Rock (John Entwistle album)|The Rock]]'' (1996). The band was preoccupied with recording ''[[The Who by Numbers]]'' during the spring of 1975 and did not do any touring for most of the year, so Entwistle spent the summer performing solo concerts. He also fronted the John Entwistle Band with band mate and business partner Steve Luongo on US club tours during the 1990s, and appeared with [[Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band]] in 1995. A talented visual artist, Entwistle held regular exhibitions of his paintings, with many of them featuring the Who.<ref name="thewho1"/> In 1984, he became the first artist besides [[Arlen Roth]] to record an instructional video for Roth's company Hot Licks Video.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}

==== Later years ====
In 1990, Entwistle toured with [[The Best (band)|the Best]], a short-lived [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] which included [[Keith Emerson]] of [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]], [[Joe Walsh]] of the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], [[Jeff Baxter|Jeff "Skunk" Baxter]] of [[Steely Dan]] and [[the Doobie Brothers]], and session musician [[Simon Phillips (drummer)|Simon Phillips]]. Towards the end of his career, he formed the John Entwistle Band with longtime friend, drummer [[Steve Luongo]], and guitarist Mark Hitt, both formerly of Rat Race Choir. This evolved into the John Entwistle Band, with Godfrey Townsend replacing Mark Hitt on guitar and joining harmony vocals. In 1996, the band went on the "Left for Dead" tour with Alan St. Jon joining on keyboards. After Entwistle toured with the Who for ''Quadrophenia'' in 1996–97, the John Entwistle Band set off on the "Left for Dead – the Sequel" tour in late 1998, now with Gordon Cotten on keyboards. After this second venture, the band released an album of highlights from the tour, titled ''[[Left for Live]]'' and a studio album ''[[Music from Van-Pires]]'' in 2000. The album featured lost [[Demo (music)|demos]] of Who drummer Keith Moon together with newly recorded parts by the band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/music-from-van-pires-mw0000976230|title=Music from Van-Pires - The John Entwistle Band - Songs, Reviews, Credits|website= [[AllMusic]]}}</ref>

In 1995, Entwistle also toured and recorded with [[Ringo Starr]] in one of the incarnations of Starr's [[Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band|All-Starr Band]]. This one also featured [[Billy Preston]], [[Randy Bachman]] of [[the Guess Who]], and [[Mark Farner]] of [[Grand Funk Railroad]]. In this ensemble, he played and sang "Boris the Spider" as his Who showpiece, along with "My Wife". Toward the end of his career he used a Status Graphite Buzzard Bass, which he had designed. From 1999 to early 2002, he played as part of the Who. Entwistle also played at [[Woodstock '99]], along with [[Mickey Hart]] of the [[Grateful Dead]], being the only performers there to have taken the stage at the original Woodstock. As a side project, he played the bass guitar in a [[country rock]] studio album project of original songs called the Pioneers, with Mickey Wynne on lead guitar, Ron Magness on rhythm guitar and keyboards, Roy Michaels, Andre Beeka on vocals, and John Delgado playing drums. The album was released by [[Voiceprint Records]]. Shortly before his death, Entwistle had agreed to play some US dates with the band including [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]'s ''[[Grand Ole Opry]]'', following his final upcoming tour with the Who.

In 2001, he played in [[Alan Parsons]]' [[The Beatles|Beatles]] tribute show ''[[A Walk Down Abbey Road]]''. The show also featured [[Ann Wilson]] of [[Heart (band)|Heart]], [[Todd Rundgren]], [[David Pack]] of [[Ambrosia (band)|Ambrosia]], Godfrey Townsend, [[Steve Luongo]] and [[John Beck (It Bites)|John Beck]] of [[It Bites]]. That year he also played with the Who at [[the Concert for New York City]]. He also joined forces again with the John Entwistle Band for an 8-gig tour. This time Chris Clark played keyboards. From January–February 2002, Entwistle played his last concerts with the Who in a handful of dates in England, the last being on 8 February at London's [[Royal Albert Hall]]. In late 2002, an expanded 2-CD ''Left for Live Deluxe'' was released, highlighting the John Entwistle Band's performances.

==== Art ====
Between 1996 and 2002, Entwistle attended dozens of art openings in his honour. He chatted with each collector, personalising their art with a quote and a sketch of "[[Boris the Spider|Boris]]". In early 2002, Entwistle finished what was his last drawing. "Eyes Wide Shut" represented a new style for Entwistle. Featuring [[Jimi Hendrix]], Pete Townshend, [[Jimmy Page]] of [[Led Zeppelin]] and [[Eric Clapton]], Entwistle's style had evolved from simple line drawings and caricatures to a more lifelike representation of his subjects. He was more confident and relaxed with his art and ready to share that with his collectors.<ref name="thewho1"/>

Entwistle wrote this on one of his pictures:
<blockquote>Now ... ! I'm still the bass guitarist. If you're reading this bio at a show – don't forget to wave – I'm the one on the left. If you're reading this at an art show – Help support a starving Artist BUY SOMETHING!<ref name="thewho1"/></blockquote>

== Personal life ==
In 1967, Entwistle married his childhood sweetheart, Alison Wise.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uqmQDwAAQBAJ&q=Entwistle+dyed+hair+black&pg=PT102|title = The Ox: The Last of the Great Rock Stars: The Authorised Biography of the Who's John Entwistle|isbn = 9781472129376|last1 = Rees|first1 = Paul|date = 12 March 2020| publisher=Little, Brown Book }}</ref> He bought a large [[Semi-detached|semi-detached home]] in [[Stanmore]], London, filling it with all sorts of extraordinary artefacts, ranging from suits of armour to a tarantula. His eccentricity and taste for the bizarre was to remain with him throughout his life, and when he finally moved out of the city in 1978, to [[Stow-on-the-Wold]] in Gloucestershire, his 17-bedroom [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] manor, [[Quarwood]], resembled a museum. It also housed one of the largest guitar collections belonging to any rock musician.<ref name="thewho1"/>

Entwistle and Wise had a son, Christopher, in 1972.<ref name = ODNB/> The marriage ended in divorce<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/jun/29/guardianobituaries.arts|title=Obituary: John Entwistle|date=29 June 2002|website=TheGuardian.com}}</ref> and Entwistle later married Maxene Harlow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/john-entwistle-of-the-who-and-his-wife-maxene-harlow-news-photo/1213147761|title='Moonstruck' Film Premiere|website=GettyImages.com|date=16 March 1988}}</ref> At the time of his death, his long-term partner was 
Lisa Pritchett-Johnson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/new-book-lifts-lid-whos-3907878|title=Book lifts lid on rock star's Gloucestershire party house|first=Janet|last=Hughes|date=3 March 2020|website=GloucestershireLive}}</ref>

== Death and legacy ==
Entwistle died in Room 658 at the [[Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas)|Hard Rock Hotel and Casino]] in [[Paradise, Nevada]], on 27 June 2002, one day before the scheduled first show of the Who's 2002 United States tour. He was 57 years old. Entwistle had gone to bed that night with Alycen Rowse, a local [[stripper]] and [[groupie]], who awoke the next morning to find Entwistle cold and unresponsive.<ref name="IndUK">{{cite news |last1=Hickman |first1=Martin |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stripper-found-entwistle-dead-after-heart-attack-triggered-by-cocaine-135736.html |title=Stripper found Entwistle dead after heart attack triggered by cocaine |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |location=UK |date=12 December 2002 |access-date=5 January 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Who: Fifty Years of My Generation|author= Snow, Mat |page=205 |publisher= Race Point Publishing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8WLdCgAAQBAJ&q=Alycen+Rowse&pg=PA205 |author-link= Mat Snow |isbn= 9781631061615 |date= 2 November 2015}}</ref> The [[Clark County, Nevada|Clark County]] medical examiner determined that his death was due to a heart attack induced by an undetermined amount of [[cocaine]]. Entwistle already had severe heart disease and usually smoked 20 cigarettes a day.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2565557.stm |title=Cocaine stopped Entwistle's heart |date=11 December 2002 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

Entwistle had undergone a medical examination for insurance purposes before the Who's 2002 tour started. The exam revealed high [[blood pressure]] and high [[cholesterol]]. Entwistle's authorised biographer Paul Rees has suggested that a more detailed physical examination would have revealed that [[Coronary artery disease|three of his arteries were blocked]] and necessitated surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/insurance-medical-at-fault-for-death-of-the-who-bassist-john-entwistle-biography-says-2005469 |title='Insurance medical at fault' for death of The Who bassist John Entwistle, biography says |work=inews.co.uk |date=2 March 2020 |access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref>

His funeral was held at [[St Edward's Church, Stow-on-the-Wold|St Edward's Church]] in [[Stow-on-the-Wold]], Gloucestershire, England, on 10 July 2002.<ref name="auto"/> His body was cremated and his ashes were buried privately in the grounds of his mansion, [[Quarwood]]. A memorial service was held on 24 October at [[St Martin-in-the-Fields]], [[Trafalgar Square]], London. Long time friend and band mate [[Steve Luongo]] was invited by The Who and John's family to deliver the eulogy.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Entwistle's huge collection of guitars and basses was auctioned at [[Sotheby's]] in London by his son, Christopher, to meet anticipated [[Duty (tax)|taxes]] on his father's [[Estate (law)|estate]].

[[File:Hard Rock Cafe London (4987030323).jpg|thumb|right|Display of Entwistle's bass along with a shirt formerly owned by bandmate Keith Moon at the [[Hard Rock Cafe]], London]]On Pete Townshend's website, Townshend and Roger Daltrey published a tribute, saying, "The Ox has left the building—we've lost another great friend. Thanks for your support and love. Pete and Roger."<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

Entwistle's mansion, [[Quarwood]], and some of his personal effects were later sold off to meet the demands of the [[Inland Revenue]]; he had worked for the agency from 1962 to 1963 as a tax officer before being demoted to filing clerk, prior to joining the Who.

One aspect of Entwistle's life which emerged after his death came as a surprise even to those closest to him, including the members of the Who. "It wasn't until the day of his funeral that I discovered that he'd spent most of his life as a [[Freemasonry|Freemason]]", said Townshend.<ref>{{cite web |first=Caesar |last=Caruana |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/quadrophenia-was-nearly-the-end-says-pete-townshend-512395 |title=''Quadrophenia'' was nearly 'the end', says Pete Townshend |work=MusicRadar.com |date=10 November 2011 |access-date=2 January 2012}}</ref> 

Welsh bassist [[Pino Palladino]], who had previously played on several of Townshend's solo studio albums, took over for Entwistle onstage when the Who resumed their postponed US tour on 1 July 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thewho.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319150418/http://www.thewho.com/index.php?module=gigography&gigography_decade=2002&gigography_year_id=2002&gigography_item_id=1740 |url-status=dead |title=Who Album |archive-date=19 March 2012 }}</ref> Townshend and Daltrey spoke at length about their reaction to Entwistle's death. Some of their comments can be found on ''The Who Live in Boston'' DVD.

On the opening night of their ''[[Vapor Trails]]'' tour, which began in [[Hartford, Connecticut]] on 28 June 2002 (the night after Entwistle's death), [[Geddy Lee]] of [[Rush (band)|Rush]] dedicated the band's performance of the song "Between Sun and Moon" to Entwistle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=1107 |title=Headbangers - Rush Live in Hartford, CT |work=knac.com |date=15 July 2002 |access-date=4 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801171225/http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=1107 |archive-date=1 August 2014 }}</ref>

[[Pearl Jam]]'s seventh studio album ''[[Riot Act (album)|Riot Act]]'', released in late 2002, was dedicated to Entwistle, among others.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |id=EK86825 |publisher=[[Epic Records]] |others=[[Pearl Jam]] |title=[[Riot Act (album)|Riot Act]] |type=liner notes |year=2002}} [https://i.discogs.com/-62MO40D7EkyiVxFUYMD8XJURhu39EsgTPjQz-PivbY/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:473/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTY5MjY3/OTctMTY0MTU4NDU0/NS0xODY1LmpwZWc.jpeg Photo]</ref>

[[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] played a cover version of "[[My Generation]]" during their [[Heathen Chemistry Tour|Summer 2002 European Tour]] as a tribute to Entwistle.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/oasis-849-1372074|title=OASIS PAY TRIBUTE TO WHO LEGEND |date=July 2002 |work=nme.com |access-date=26 May 2023}}</ref> [[Beady Eye]]'s single "[[The Beat Goes On (Beady Eye song)|The Beat Goes On]]", from their 2011 album ''[[Different Gear, Still Speeding]]'', contains a reference to Entwistle and bandmate Keith Moon, with the lyric: "The Ox and Moon were counting me in, I had to give in".

In some concerts of the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]]' [[By the Way Tour]], such as the gig [[Live at Slane Castle (Red Hot Chili Peppers video)|at Slane Castle in 2003]], [[Flea (musician)|Flea]] got on stage [[:File:Flea in skeleton t-shirt.jpg|wearing a version of the skeleton suit]] Entwistle wore during the Who's 1970 tour, as a tribute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.feelnumb.com/2013/09/23/flea-paid-tribute-to-fellow-bassist-john-entwistle-by-wearing-a-skeleton-suit/ |title=Flea Paid Tribute to Fellow Bassist John Entwistle by Rocking a 'Skeleton Suit' |work=Fellnumb.com |date=23 September 2013 |access-date=12 June 2019 |archive-date=27 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527014644/http://www.feelnumb.com/2013/09/23/flea-paid-tribute-to-fellow-bassist-john-entwistle-by-wearing-a-skeleton-suit/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Technique ==
[[File:John Entwisle 1987.jpg|thumb|right|Entwistle performing with the Who at the [[O2 Apollo Manchester|Manchester Apollo]] in 1981]]Entwistle's playing technique incorporated fingerstyle, [[plectrum]],<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/john-entwistle/6648|title=John Entwistle (IM Sep 1975)|journal=International Musician & Recording World|date=September 1975|issue=September 1975|pages=24–27}}</ref> [[tapping]], and the use of [[harmonic]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/why-john-entwistle-was-the-greatest-rock-bassist-of-all-time|title=Why John Entwistle was the greatest rock bassist of all time|author=Chris Charlesworth|date=4 July 2019|website=Musicradar.com|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> He changed his style between songs and even during songs to alter the sound he produced. His fingering technique involved plucking strings very forcefully to produce a trebly, twangy sound. He changed his thumb position from [[pickup (music technology)|pick-up]] to the E string and occasionally even positioned his thumb near the pick-up. His plectrum technique involved holding the plectrum between his thumb and forefinger, with the rest of his fingers outstretched for balance.

The Who's studio recordings seldom did justice to Entwistle's playing, in part because he was better heard in concert,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://drummagazine.com/partners-in-time-john-entwistle-keith-moon/|title=Partners In Time: John Entwistle & Keith Moon|date=23 August 2013|website=Drummachine.com|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> where he and Pete Townshend frequently exchanged roles, with Entwistle providing rapid melodic lines and Townshend anchoring the song with rhythmic chord work. At the same time, Townshend noted that Entwistle provided the true rhythmic timekeeping in the band, while Keith Moon, with his flourishes around the kit, was more like a keyboardist. In 1989, Entwistle pointed out that, by modern standards, "the Who haven't got a proper bass player."<ref>Guitar Player's Chris Jisi in 1989</ref>

Entwistle also developed what he called a "typewriter" approach to playing the bass.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/9ngb/|title=BBC - Music - Review of John Entwistle - So Who's The Bass Player?|first=Simon|last=Morgan|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> It involved positioning his right hand over the strings so all four fingers could be used to tap percussively on the strings, causing them to strike the fretboard with a distinctive twangy sound. This gave him the ability to play three or four strings at once, or to use several fingers on a single string. It allowed him to create passages that were both percussive and melodic. This method should not be confused with [[tapping]] or [[Slapping (music)|slapping]], and in fact predates these techniques. Modern players such as [[Ryan Martinie]] of heavy metal band [[Mudvayne]] have used similar techniques. Entwistle can be seen using this technique in [[Mike Gordon]]'s documentary film, ''[[Rising Low]]'' (2002). Notable in his left-hand technique was his use of slides, positioning his left hand for octaves, and his use of the [[Pentatonic scale|pentatonic]] when playing with the Who.

Entwistle was notorious for the extremely high volume at which he played bass, going so far as to rig pick-ups to each string on his instruments. This led to him developing hearing loss,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/john-entwistle-i-just-wanted-to-play-louder-than-anyone-else|title=John Entwistle: "I just wanted to play louder than anyone else"|first=Paul|last=Rees|date=2 November 2017|website=Loudersound.com|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> similar to Townshend. Although not as public about his problems as Townshend, he reputedly had to rely on lip reading to understand speech in his later years. [[Randy Bachman]] of [[Bachman–Turner Overdrive]] claimed that towards the end of his life, Entwistle mostly played by feeling the rush of air from his giant amp stacks.<ref>''Randy Bachman's Vinyl Tap Stories'', p. 45</ref> Entwistle blamed his hearing loss on using headphones.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetapesarchive.com/john-entwistle/|title = #21 John Entwistle (The Who) 1996|website=Thetapesarchive.com}}</ref>

== Influence ==
Entwistle identified his influences as a combination of his school training on French horn, trumpet, and piano (giving his fingers strength and dexterity). Musicians who influenced him included rock and roll guitarist [[Duane Eddy]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1398616/The-Whos-bassist-Entwistle-dies-at-57-on-eve-of-US-tour.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1398616/The-Whos-bassist-Entwistle-dies-at-57-on-eve-of-US-tour.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=The Who's bassist Entwistle dies at 57 on eve of US tour|first=Nicola Woolcock and Nicole|last=Martin|date=27 June 2002|website=Telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and American soul and [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] bassists such as [[James Jamerson]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards |first=Briony |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/mike-watt-top-five-bassists-minutemen-firehose-stooges |title=Mike Watt's Top 5 Bassists |website=Loudersound.com |date=13 October 2016 |access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref> In turn, Entwistle has been a considerable influence on the playing styles and sounds used by generations of bassists that have followed him, including [[Tom Hamilton (musician)|Tom Hamilton]],<ref name="Aerosmith 2011">Aerosmith (2 June 2011). "Tom Hamilton: Favorite Bass Players". Retrieved 25 February 2020 – via YouTube.</ref> [[Brian Gibson (musician)|Brian Gibson]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/lightning-bolts-brian-gibson-blows-sh-t-up|title=Lightning Bolt's Brian Gibson Blows Sh#t Up! |website=Premierguitar.com|access-date=24 April 2024}}</ref> [[Geezer Butler]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Jason |last=Ankeny |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/geezer-butler-mn0000193848 |title=Geezer Butler &#124; Biography |website=AllMusic |date=17 July 1949 |access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> [[Krist Novoselic]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/krist|title="I'm never in any bass magazines..." An interview with Krist Novoselic|website=Bassplayer.com|access-date=12 June 2019|archive-date=28 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528193207/https://www.bassplayer.com/artists/krist|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Geddy Lee]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/geddy-lee-mn0000153933/biography |title=Geddy Lee &#124; Biography |website=AllMusic |date=29 July 1953 |access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> [[Billy Sheehan]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Greg |last=Prato |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-sheehan-mn0000770404/biography |title=Billy Sheehan &#124; Biography |website=AllMusic |date=19 March 1953 |access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> [[Victor Wooten]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Heather |last=Phares |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/victor-wooten-mn0000178114/biography |title=Victor Wooten &#124; Biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> [[Tom Petersson]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Doug |last=Stone |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-petersson-mn0000614944 |title=Tom Petersson &#124; Biography |website=AllMusic |date=9 May 1950 |access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> [[John Myung]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forbassplayersonly.com/interview-john-myung/|title=Interview - John Myung - For Bass Players Only|date=31 March 2014|publisher=For Bass Players Only}}</ref> and [[Chris Squire]].<ref>Soocher, Stan: "Squire's bass fire", ''Circus Weekly'', 13 March 1979, 33.</ref>

Entwistle continues to top 'best ever bass player' polls in musicians' magazines. In 2000, ''Guitar'' magazine named him "Bassist of the Millennium" in a readers' poll.<ref name="Bassist of the Millennium">{{cite web | url=http://www.johnentwistle.com/images/bass2kscans.html | title=Bassist of the Millennium | work=Guitar magazine | date=2000 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930020727/http://www.johnentwistle.com/images/bass2kscans.html | archive-date=30 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[J. D. Considine]] ranked Entwistle No. 9 on his list of "Top 50 Bass Players".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215144628/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/index.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=15 December 2005 |title=Rocklist.net ... Steve Parker ... New Boo Of Rock Lists |publisher=Rocklistmusic.co.uk |date=4 October 1980 |access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> He was named the second best rock bassist on ''[[Creem Magazine]]'''s 1974 Reader Poll Results.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/creem_lists.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110130743/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/creem_lists.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=10 January 2007 |title=Rocklist.net ... Creem magazine selected readers |publisher=Rocklistmusic.co.uk |access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> In 2011, a ''[[Rolling Stone]] Magazine'' reader poll selected him as the No. 1 rock bassist of all time.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/>

== Equipment ==
{{See also|The Who's musical equipment}}
Entwistle collaborated with bass guitar manufacturers such as [[Alembic Inc|Alembic]], [[Warwick (guitar manufacturer)|Warwick]], and Status Graphite.<ref>Entwistle, John. Bass Culture: The John Entwistle Guitar Collection. Sanctuary, London 2004, {{ISBN|978-1860745935}}.</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/2ln9H3y71L8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140522120638/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ln9H3y71L8 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite news|author=Wetzel, Michael|title=Video: German Warwick Bass Guitars|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ln9H3y71L8|access-date=18 April 2015|newspaper=[[Deutsche Welle|Deutsche Welle TV]]|date=11 September 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> His bass solo on the "My Generation" single was a [[Fender Jazz Bass]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/753541 |title=Jazz bass (serial no. L89716)|date=1965|website=Metmuseum.org|access-date=29 May 2022}}</ref> with stock tapewound strings.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nYVCDwAAQBAJ&q=John+entwistle+danelectro&pg=PT610|title=1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die|first=Terry|last=Burrows|date=22 February 2018|publisher=Octopus|access-date=12 June 2019|via=Google Books|isbn=9781788400497}}</ref>

Entwistle's collection of guitars and basses was auctioned at [[Sotheby's]] in May 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/entwistle-john-030513-2496085245.html |title=The John Entwistle Collection -- Auction - PopMatters |access-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320001250/https://www.popmatters.com/entwistle-john-030513-2496085245.html |archive-date=20 March 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Discography ==
'''With The Who'''
* ''[[My Generation]]'' (1965)
* ''[[A Quick One]]'' (1966)
* ''[[The Who Sell Out]]'' (1967)
* ''[[Magic Bus: The Who on Tour]]'' (1968)
* ''[[Tommy (The Who album)|Tommy]]'' (1969)
* ''[[Who's Next]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Quadrophenia]]'' (1973)
* ''[[The Who By Numbers]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Who Are You]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Face Dances]]'' (1981)
* ''[[It's Hard]]'' (1982)
{{Main|John Entwistle discography|The Who discography}}
'''Solo albums'''
* ''[[Smash Your Head Against the Wall]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Whistle Rymes]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Rigor Mortis Sets In]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Mad Dog (album)|Mad Dog]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Too Late the Hero (album)|Too Late the Hero]]'' (1981)
'''with the Rock'''
* ''[[The Rock (John Entwistle album)|The Rock]]'' (1996)
'''with the John Entwistle Band'''
* ''[[Music from Van-Pires]]'' (2000)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

;Books
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book| last1 = Neill| first1 = Andy| last2 = Kent| first2 = Matthew| title = Anyway Anyhow Anywhere – The Complete Chronicle of The Who| year = 2009| publisher = Virgin Books| isbn = 978-0-7535-1217-3}}
* {{cite book| last = Marsh| first = Dave | author-link = Dave Marsh | title = Before I Get Old – The Story of The Who| year = 1983| publisher = Plexus Publishing| isbn = 978-0-85965-085-4}}
{{Refend}}
;Articles

* Bernhard Valentinitsch, Bassist im Spotlight.In:Rocks - Magazin für Classical Rock.01/2017.Köln 2017, S.91.

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.thewholive.net/entwistle/ The Who Concert Guide: John Entwistle Tour Archive]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160214152423/http://www.johnentwistle.org/ The John Entwistle Foundation]
* [http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear.html/ John Entwistle's gear reference] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117152041/http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear.html/ |date=17 November 2007 }}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000226331}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{IBDB name}}

{{John Entwistle}}
{{The Who}}
{{1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}

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